1. What is a traumatic brain injury?

If you experience any forceful contact to your head, and it disrupts your brain’s natural functions, then you’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. Your brain can be injured by other conditions, like infections or strokes, but those kinds of injuries are called “acquired brain injuries,” or ABIs. They can be just as life altering as a TBI.

Doctors classify TBIs as either mild, moderate, or severe. Since most TBIs are mild, many people who sustain a TBI find that their symptoms get better over time. In fewer but more serious cases of TBI, the effects of the damage can last a lifetime.

2. How many people have TBI?

It’s hard to imagine, but almost 1.7 million Americans sustain a TBI each year.1 Most people who are treated at an emergency room are released, but approximately 275,000 are admitted annually into the hospital.1 Additionally, each year, more than 52,000 die as a result of the TBI,1 and some 125,000 are permanently disabled as a result of the injury.2

Although we don’t know the number of people with TBI who aren’t seen in an emergency department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 3.2 million Americans are permanently disabled as a result of a TBI.1

3. What causes TBI?

The leading causes of TBI are:

Falls (35.2%);

Motor vehicle/traffic crashes (17.3%);

Struck by/against (16.5%);

Assaults (11%);

Unknown/other (21%)1

Blasts are a leading cause of TBI for active duty military personnel in war zones.3

4. Who is at highest risk for TBI?

Males are approximately 1.5 times as likely as females to sustain a TBI.4

The age groups at highest risk for TBI are 0 to 4 year olds, 15 to 19 year olds, and adults aged 65 years and older.4

Certain military duties increase the risk of sustaining a TBI.5

African-Americans have the highest death rate from TBI.4

5. What are the costs of TBI?

TBI takes a big toll on the American economy — in 2000, it cost the US approximately $60 billion dollars overall. 6

The more severe the injury is, the more expensive it is to treat. If you were to experience a severe brain injury today, it would cost anywhere from $600,000 to $1.8 million dollars to care for you over your lifetime. If you’re a veteran, that cost could be much higher, since wartime TBIs are often accompanied by other injuries as well.

6. How does a TBI affect the brain and body?

When a TBI occurs, anything having to do with your brain is potentially affected. That means your basic body functions, like eating and sleeping, can be altered. It also means that the complex parts of your life — your emotions, your thoughts, and your ability to communicate — can also be disrupted.

In serious cases, TBI can also affect the brain’s electrical system, causing seizures. Such a condition is commonly known as epilepsy. TBI is also known to increase the risk for other conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson disease. 7,8

7. What are some common obstacles that arise after a TBI?

Treating TBI isn’t simple, and that creates many challenges for people with TBI and their families. In a 2006 report,9 the Institute of Medicine recognized the hardships that TBI creates and issued a report saying:

"…many people with TBI experience persistent, lifelong disabilities. For these individuals and their caregivers, finding needed services is, far too often, an overwhelming logistical, financial, and psychological challenge. Individuals with TBI-related disabilities, their family members, and caregivers report substantial problems in getting basic services, including housing, vocational services, neurobehavioral services, transportation, and respite for caregivers. Yet efforts to address these issues are stymied by inadequate data systems, insufficient resources, and lack of coordination. TBI services are rarely coordinated across programs except in some service sites. Furthermore, in most states, there is no single entry point into TBI systems of care."

Even long after an injury has happened, many people find that they require certain things that aren’t readily available. The most frequent unmet needs are:

Improving memory and problem solving;

Managing stress and emotional upsets;

Controlling one's temper; and

Improving one's job skills.10

8. What are some long-term effects of TBI?

Because the human brain is so complicated, it’s extremely difficult to predict the long-term effects of any TBI. Most cases of mild TBI will resolve over a course of time with minimal problems. In the case of more serious TBIs, a person can experience any number of changes over the course of months and years.

Many people with TBI have problems with basic cognitive skills. It’s hard for them to pay attention or concentrate, and they might have trouble learning new material. A TBI can also make you think more slowly, or cause you to get easily confused. Even insight — the ability to clearly perceive a situation — can be affected. People with TBI may become impulsive, or develop unusual habits. Things that were once easy — like talking and listening — may become difficult or impossible.

Because the brain regulates our emotional and psychological lives, TBI can substantially alter your sense of mental wellness. The TBI might cause a personality change, or introduce mental problems. A person with TBI may have mood swings, depression, irritability, aggression, or disinhibition.

Vision problems are a common side effect of TBI, as are changes in your other senses: smell, taste, touch, and hearing. Problems with balance, vertigo, and ringing in the ears are also common. In a small percentage of cases, seizures occur as a result of TBI and may involve a loss of consciousness and muscle contractions. In many cases, anticonvulsive drugs or surgical intervention may help to prevent or slow seizure activity.

In severe cases that affect the brain’s most basic functions, fundamental abilities can be altered or inhibited. Paralysis or spasticity (muscle tightening) can affect a person’s ability to move, swallow, or breathe. Digestive problems can arise, and hormonal changes may result. Women with TBI often experience menstrual difficulties.

With appropriate help, however, a person with TBI can find ways to cope with these difficulties.

9. What thought-related changes may occur due to a brain injury?

Shortened attention span

Memory problems

Poor judgment

Partial or complete loss of reading and writing skills

Problem-solving difficulties

Language problems, including communication deficits and loss of vocabulary

Inability to understand abstract concepts

Difficulty learning new things

10. What physical changes may occur due to a brain injury?

Weakness

Muscle coordination problems

Full or partial paralysis

Changes in sexual functioning

Changes in the senses (hearing, sight, touch, etc.)

Seizures (also called traumatic epilepsy)

Sleep problems

Speech difficulties

11. What subtle or severe personality and behavioral changes may occur due to a brain injury

Difficulty with social skills

Inability to empathize with others

Tendency to be more self-centered

Inability to control one’s emotions

Increases in irritability and frustration

Inappropriate and/or aggressive behavior

Extreme mood swings

Depression (individuals with TBI are considered to be at a high risk for depression)

12. Why is it so difficult to predict the outcome of a TBI?

Although the field of neuroscience has advanced our understanding of TBI considerably, we still know a limited amount about the brain’s capacity to heal following injury. Instead of predicting outcomes, rehabilitation professionals often create treatment plans to help people achieve specific goals.

These plans must take into account the severity of injury, the amount of time (if any) spent in a minimally conscious state, and available resources. Neuropsychological evaluations test for areas of specific impairment, and can be of great assistance in understanding the severity of injury. Armed with that information, rehabilitation workers can then help people with TBI reach their goals through therapy and other efforts.

13. What is the process of treating a TBI?

As soon as the injury occurs, most people should receive care in a medical center that specializes in trauma care. If the examining doctor believes that the injury is a mild TBI, then the patient is typically evaluated and tested and possibly discharged with the appropriate recommendations for follow-up care. Patients are told to immediately report any worsening of symptoms.

In the case of moderate and severe TBI, individuals may transition into surgery, intensive care, acute care, or any combination of the three. Specialists at every stage of treatment should be available to recommend subsequent stages of treatment. Once the person is medically stable, helpful treatment options may include the following:

Acute rehabilitation programs

Post-acute rehabilitation centers

Sub-acute care through a skilled nursing facility

Long-term care/supervised living for slow-to-recover patients

Coma stimulation programs

Residential facilities that specialize in TBI

Outpatient rehabilitation

Day treatment programs

Neuropsychological Testing

Neurological medication management

Epilepsy treatment centers

Neurobehavioral management programs

In-home treatment provided by medical professionals

Some rehabilitation may last weeks or months, while others may last years. Programs and treatments will change as you or your loved one’s particular needs change. Some centers may also provide respite care services for family members who need to place their loved one into temporary care.

14. What are the differences among all the rehabilitation specialists who may be needed?

Neurologists: Neurologists are doctors who are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders. These can include diseases of the brain, spinal cord, muscles, and nerves.

Note: Some professionals also carry additional certification from the American Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists. See: http://www.aacbis.net/ for details.

15. Will I get better?

TBI is treatable, and treatment is always made better with the help of people who care about you. Keep in mind that TBI is considered a catastrophic injury; the greater the severity of the TBI, the less likely you are to return to your pre-injury physical and mental status.

There is a popular myth that suggests that there is a limited time frame for helping someone after a brain injury, but the fact is that many people continue to make gains in their recovery many years after the injury.

16. How long will it take to get better?

TBIs tend to heal slowly. In mild cases, symptoms may persist for weeks or months. For moderate to severe TBIs, some symptoms may resolve over the course of months or years, while others may persist for a lifetime.

17. How can I find financial assistance?

It takes a lot of money, time, and resources to deal with TBI effectively, so it’s no surprise that people with TBI and their families can be placed under tremendous financial strain. Financial assistance will vary based on the kind of TBI you have, the kind of insurance you carry, and even the state you live in. In many cases, those with TBI must make due with the few resources that are available.

Case managers or social workers may be available through treatment centers or through your state’s health and human services organizations. They may be aware of specific types of aid particular to your circumstances. Veterans, on the other hand, should approach their care coordinators to help identify options that may (or may not) exist.

18. What are some housing options for people with TBI?

Keeping and maintaining a home environment is difficult enough for the average person; with a TBI, housing issues can become a real problem. Finding help for your housing needs is a complicated, difficult task, and in some areas of the country, adequate housing simply may not be available.

Your local Department of Health may be able to direct you to housing assistance programs in your area. For those requiring in-home medical assistance, some programs may be available through local nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, or community support programs.

19. Will I be able to resume my old job, or find new, meaningful employment?

TBIs often upset a person’s ability to work, but many people who experience a TBI are able to return to their previous occupations. You may require additional assistance or certain technologies (voice recorders, organizers, or visual aids) in order to resume former duties, or you may enlist the help of a vocational rehabilitation expert to find new and meaningful employment. In severe cases, a person may not be able to physically participate in work.

Businesses that employ more than 15 people must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) or face legal repercussions. If you have a substantial impairment from a TBI, then the ADA requires your employer to provide you with reasonable accommodation.

20. Who will love me?

TBI does not affect your ability to love or be loved, but it can have an effect on relationships. While no studies offer information about relationships in the case of mild TBIs, one study reports that 46 percent of people who sustained moderate to severe TBI experienced a divorce within five years after their injury.11

Despite the numbers affecting the severe TBI population, many people with TBI are able sustain and nurture their relationships with minimal difficulties. In some cases, leaning on resources such as support groups or relationship counselors can be a helpful way to deal with relationship challenges.

21. How do I deal with all these new emotions like depression, anxiety, anger?

Emotional hardship is one of the most common consequences of TBI. It is a frightening and frustrating injury, and can cause you to feel depressed, anxious, or angry. If emotional problems begin to have a direct effect on your ability to function and maintain your relationships, you should seek the help of a therapist or counselor familiar with TBI issues. Additionally, neuropsychiatrists and neuropsychologists may be of help in diagnosing and treating emotional disorders that arise after TBI.

22. Where do I find the services and help I need — not just for today, but down the road?

With TBI, finding the right kind of help can be tricky. In many cases, it’s much easier to ask for help from local organizations. Most states have a Brain Injury Association that may provide a list of services that are available. Additionally, state health and human services programs may offer case managers or social workers who can help create a treatment strategy for those with TBI.

Comments (28)

Hiii.... My friend met an accident. Doctor said he had damage on frontal lobe. He had blood clot in his head. He is in observation. Now he is recovered 50%. I want to know what are the side effects possible to him in future after he fully recovered?

Good evening
My dad passed away this past weekend due to pressure to the brain. He was in a serious car accident about 26 years ago us not knowing he had a fractured skull. He fell off the bed during the night and hit his left side of his head above his ear. We found him in the bathroom floor later that night lying on his chest. With a lot of questions we were told he died because of pressure on the brain. Please help on clarity if this is possible? Thanks

My 40 year old friend took a hit to the head requiring about 15 staples to the upper back of his head about two months ago. He is now complaining that it feels like his head is being drilled and his girlfriend came by today very upset and said that he awoke about 2am and did not know who she was,(guessed at a couple of names of girlfriends from when he was 12) did not know his dog and in fact wondered where his cat was (the cat he had when he was 12) did not know his name he goes by now but knew the one he used when he was twelve etc. When he awoke in the morning he was right as rain and she told him all that went on in the a.m. and that is how she found out that all the stuff was from when he was twelve. He has a history of drug abuse although she insists he was not using last night. She is terrified he has a serious brain injury from the previous hit on the head and is very very worried. He also has a history of malingering. Could you please inform me if head trauma or injury usually presents in such a manner. It does not sound right to me I would think that there would be some confusion involved.

I think in the relationship section, the general population's divorce rate should be mentioned also. Otherwise the information seems to twist in favor of a poor outcome in marriage relationships after TBI, When 1 in 2 couples divorce nowadays anyway. Thank you

When I was 4 years of age, i fell down from our ladder. My head was wounded and broked and was stitched for about 2 inches. Now, I am 22 years old, I am experiencing head cramps, an unexplained feeling of my head like it was been crumpled (back of my head) and like felling down when I'm standing ( I can't stand for an hour). I am also wearing an eyeglass now because of my eye disorder. My question is , the condition I am feeling right now is from the injury of my head? Is there a possibility?

so i have hit my head 3 times, badly. Like falling 7ft to the edge of a table with my head...other hits. I answered yes to all at point .11. I have been complaing about my head, and other things to doctors, and only now, almost 5 years later I am being taken seriously. I should have gone hospital when I hit my head. I am currently laying on my front on my bed with laptop in front of my and my head hurts. when i first lay down my head pulsates and im in agony, the pain eases, but i have been laying here for about 10mins and my head still hurts.

Does the memory get better? I was in a bad car accident and was in a coma for 17 days and I had a severe traumatic brain injury know I'm having problems with my memory. Check out my story on facebook at Green For Garrett

I was in a car accident 4 years ago, was in a coma for 7 days and in the hospital for 3 weeks. My body healed quickly, but my brain is still healing... Aphasia is just part of my personality now. I am working again!! It took a year or so for my taste buds to come back. My short term memory skills are getting stronger. I started playing Lumosity.com online games a few years ago, I know it has really helped my memory and brain functioning skills!! I have never regretted the accident, I am grateful every day!!! even though I miss reading.. I have no desire for books anymore. I feel normal almost all the time, but get tired easily, and if I'm tired my brain is super slow and I need a lot of alone time. My very supportive family and incredible husband made the process easier - I am a lucky woman.

My husband has a severe TBI from a vehicle accident. He is 64. It has been 7 months since the accident and he seems to have little interest in food or beverages. He will taste something and say that " it's so good " but one or two bites are enough for him.He is getting his nourishment through a feeding tube. He seems to be coming along in his therapy but has recently developed nausea since they put a shunt in to relieve excess fluid in the brain. Has anyone else seen or had these problems (nausea and lack of appetite?) Did they resolve and how. Thanks for any input.

Hello my name is Joseph Dilley i'am 37 years old and had a assault almost 9 years ago, I have made a very good recovery as to what happened to me but I had a child before this an a wife who seemed to do a complete 360 in the way she was before my injury so she left me because I think she didn't think I was going to be the man I was before my injury but she got remarried and now wants to move with my son to Oklahoma so I do not want that I love my son so much but it seems when we go to court I feel my rights are not being taken serious because of my injury so if you or anyone reading this has any ideas on what to do or any services in Albuquerque New Mexico to help me out right to me at my email mmajoseph@msn.com open to anything right now thank you Joseph Dilley.

Hello,I just turned 40 in nov.As a child I had several blows to my head.I\'m now having alot of problems.Was in the hospital in dec.I have to go see a neurogolist in Feb.Seem like i cant rem anything my spelling is aweful.how or will the know if i have tbi?one pupil has been bigger than the other for yrs now.

I have lived with the effects of a severe TBI FOR 27 years I do not believe that you overcome it completely but it's the way you mange it I have found when I have emotional difficulties or stressful circumstances that is when I am effected deeper and longer than some one with out a TBI it has has been difficult at times but I have lived a rewarding life so far my faith in god has helped me

My sister had a TBI 27 years ago in 1985 and suffered immediate effects from TBI like changes in personality, impulse control, temper, etc. She was was 18 at the time and is now 45 and has a PhD. It took several years and ADD medication for her to return to a "normal" level of behavior, but she did. It is possible.

This is a wonderful resource. I have had 5 "knocked out" TBIs as I grew up, then had 2 more TBIs during the past 16 months. Big changes in mood, my immune system and my ability to control what I eat. I always knew growing up that *something* was different. None of my classmates forgot their sweater almost every day at school. As I grew older, most of my friends were able to hold their tongue when it really mattered. But I learned to deal with it. Researching TBI makes me very frustrated. I wish I hadn't been so cavalier in the past. I have documented scar tissue now, and there's nothing I can do about it except eat well, continue to stretch my brain's abilities and hope for progress.

I wish I had found this site earlier! My husband was injured Feb 2012, found out we were pregnant his second week in ICU and blessed his insurance covered a great rehab 6 hours away. It's been long and hard. Everyone seems to think life for us has gone back to normal. We are far from it, he thinks he's back to the same. But I know differently. He also insists going back to drinking. At the time of his 4 wheeler accident his blood alcohol level was .18, more than twice the legal limit. I've had a hard time with his emotional and agression changes. He has damage to the temporal and frontal lobes. His family is in no way supportive, which has really took a toll on my family. They see everything me and him go thru, as well as my 2 year old son. Just reading other's experiences and knowing I'm not the only person who feels this way truly helps. Thanks for making this page available. I wish the Rehab or hospital would make pages like this apparent for families. They only seem to want to leave you in the dark on recovery outcomes, or prepare you for the worst. Thankfully my husband is a high functioning TBI survivor and has been able to go back to his old job, but it's apparent life is different from here on out. katherine_king@bellsouth.net

My new love interest had a combat injury to frontal lobe. I only know about that...speech/memory issues. He hasn't spoken of it since, but in reading brainline I can see MANY TBI issues at work with our difficulties. I'm glad I read what I did. I have a new approach to work with now, not only for myself, but him, and US.

My 23 year old step son was in an accident July 2010. While he has made a very good recovery physically and mentally, I feel often like I am dealing with a teenager not a 23 year old. It is very difficult because he lies and manipulates you in any situation that suits him. They say to be patient and kind and caring to a TBI, but my TBI is very hard to deal with on a daily basis. The lies and manipulation just tear down your patience and caring attitude. I know he struggles but adding the "extras" on top of the injury makes it very depressing to deal with. It seems to be that these personality traits were there before and now are "heightened". SO in so many words I relate to the post of the boy acting 18. We were told by doctors to expect to deal with a 12 year old. I believe daily he goes anywhere from about a 12 year old to an actual 23 year old. I believe it is just the way they will be unless they get the therapy they so need and deserve. That is my hope as for now, starting therapy that should have happened directly after the injury, but it is very hard to get the TBI to understand that there is something wrong and to come to terms with the actual incident. Good luck to all, I know we all need it.

I have a 46 year old family member who, at 18, was in terrible accident. He was drinking, rolled his truck, and was thrown from the vehicle. No one saw it actually happen, but he was found walking around the highway with no recollection of the accident. No medical measures were taken, and will he will not acknowledge anything wrong with him. Though he has learned adult coping skills, he thinks and behaves just like he was still 18. Has anyone else experienced this?

After being in serveral blasts in both Iraq and Afghanistan I suffer from TBI, it has a great impact on your daily life, from sleeping, eating, and one of the worst is your emotional state of mind. It not only effects the soldier but the family back home, the TBI has been one of the hardest things that both my wife and I have had to overcome and we are far from overcooming it completely. in short I wanted to tell people not to hide the fact that they have a TBI but to embrace it and learn from it.

I had a severe motorbike accident in 1986 - that left me in a coma for 7-months. I had global brain damage. I won't try to fool you: rehabilitation is tough and it takes a lot of effort - but it does happen ... if you're willing to put in a lot of effort.

I suffer having a traumatic head injury, because I was hurt in a vehicle accident three years ago. And every day, I suffer because everything is so hard to do, especially since I am in a wheelchair all day long, away from my friends and family. It really is painful, I can't explain it.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which is dedicated to ensuring that impacted post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families are thriving long after they return home.

BrainLine is a national service of WETA-TV, the flagship PBS station in Washington, D.C.